3. Hausu
For the first time in North America, Criterion blessed us with the release of Nobuhiko bayashi's 1977 deranged masterstroke Hausu (House). Trying to describe this film to someone who hasn't seen it is an exercise in futility as bayashi throws everything AND the kitchen sink into this brilliantly orchestrated nightmare. However, the important thing that should be said about House is how Criterion summarizes the film itself on the reverse packaging of its release, like "an episode of Scooby-Doo as directed by Mario Bava". Once totting the tagline, "How Seven Beauties Were Eaten!", House's story was primarily comprised by the inventive imagination of his eleven year old daughter. Japan is known for producing off the wall cinema but what is more shocking is how Toho originally hired bayashi to create their version of Steven Spielberg's 1975 "we're gonna need a bigger boat" Jaws. How you get from Jaws to House is anyone's guess but we're glad it happened and so was Toho as it was a success. Utilizing almost every film technique in the book from stop motion, animation, crazy collages, a myriad of matte paintings and in-camera tricks galore, it's wonder to behold on Blu Ray in 1080p. Presented in 1.33:1, House was transferred from the original negative with minimal DNR maintaining it's positively surreal look. Audio is a remastered monaural soundtrack.
There are several supplements for this release with only two being of note. The first is a 45 minute documentary called Constructing a House, with director Nobuhiko bayashi, screenwriter Chiho Katsura and Nobuhiko's daughter talking about the history of the production. More importantly, they go in depth with how most of the bizarre special effects were made. As a fun companion piece, Criterion also included a 39 minute experimental film by bayashi called Emotion. Filmed in 1966, it can be seen as a sort of stylistic precursor to House. Next is a 4 minute piece with director Ti West (House of the Devil, The Sacrament) as he unabashedly praises House for the ludicrous experimental Japanese pop-art that it is.